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Sunday, January 29, 2012

On January 7, 2012, my cousin Sherry, age 43, left her house in the small town of Sidney, Montana at 6:30 a.m. for an early morning run. She didn’t always run in the morning because as a teacher, it was often difficult to fit in runs before she headed to Sidney High School to teach math. January 7 was a Saturday, however, and Sherry had a bit more time to spare. After her run she planned to meet her sister, Rhonda, and head out to their parent’s ranch a few miles outside of town. Her husband, Gary, had gone for a walk at 5:30 a.m. and when he returned home he could tell that Sherry had already left for her run because of the toothpaste splatters in the sink and a light that was on in the kitchen.

Sherry often ran within the town limits and January 7 was no exception. When Sherry did not come home later that morning, however, her husband began to worry. He called the police and a search ensued. By 3:00 p.m. hundreds of volunteers were searching for Sherry and only one clue had been found, Sherry’s right Brook’s running shoe.

My aunt called to tell me that “something bad had happened in Montana.” As the details unfolded, a weight sat in the pit of my stomach. I hoped for the best, but feared the worst. Please find her. Please bring her home.

For several days there was no sign of Sherry. On the seventh day, a tip was received on the FBI’s tip line that led to the arrest of two men, one in North Dakota and one in South Dakota. One of the men confessed to killing Sherry. She had been abducted at 6:40 a.m., only about a mile from her house.

Sherry’s body has not yet been found.

Sherry’s traumatic and heinous death has shocked, angered and saddened her small community. On a much larger scale, it has also rocked the running world from coast to coast and abroad. How could something so random, violent and senseless happen to someone so giving, someone loved by so many?

We have so many emotions. As mothers, runners, and teachers, we fear it could have been us. Our hearts break for her students, her family, her community. We feel things we don’t know how to express and we cry for someone who we have never met. We hope she did not suffer and we hope that she found peace in her final moments. The human connection often feels deepest during tragedy. These past three weeks this connection has been alive, pulsing and powerful. The goodness has poured out of each and every one of you, demonstrating that good overpowers evil.

Many of you have told me that you have dedicated your runs and races to Sherry. I have talked about wanting to do a planned virtual run in her honor. Her family has given me their blessing and Races 2 Remember has so generously donated their time to creating a running bib for Sherry.

The virtual run will be on Saturday, February 11 at 9 a.m. MST.

Mark your calendars

Print out a running bib and pin it to your shirt

Gather your friends, your running club members, your families

If it’s wet where you are, “laminate” your bib with postage tape and punch holes in it

If that time doesn’t work, go when you can

GO. Run as far and as long as you want. Walk, hike, cycle, rollerblade if you don’t want to or can’t run.

If it feels right, please blog about your run and let me know. I’m going to post links to those posts so her family and friends can read them. If you take pictures, send them to be at beth@shutupandrun.net so that I can post them here.

My goal is to get the MOST love, momentum and energy moving in honor of Sherry. This run symbolizes the beginning if healing and honors a woman who was courageous, strong and loved by so many.

For those of us in the Denver/Boulder/Longmont area I will be organizing a group run at the Boulder Reservoir that morning. I hope we can get a huge clan together and make the earth MOVE!! Stay tuned.

You may have noticed a “donate” button on my side bar. If it is within your means, please consider a donation to Sherry’s family. The funds will go to Sherry’s children, Holly and Jason.

A version of this post and information about the virtual run will appear on the Runner’s World Other Voices blog later this week.

I'm not much of a runner yet ( I'm currently in 'running school' thru fleet feet)and I will run for Sherry on that day. She, along with family and friends have been in my heart since I heard...- Amy Gucci (Facebook)

we are in. We will be in our 5th weekend in a row retreat with approximately 400 youth but we are in. we will be organizing our "camp" runners this week, printing bibs accordingly and will be running. We've shared her stories more times then I can count - with total strangers - we are so in.

Me and my girlfriends (Calli and Lisa) are in. We'll will be running a trio of Hypothermic HalfMaras in Calgary on the 11th, then in Edmonton on the 26th, then in Red Deer on March 4th. We figure Sherry should come with us on all 3 runs.

My husband and I and anyone else I can round up will be running for Sherry. I already posted about it on my blog's FB page to help spread the word. You are absolutely correct, this is on a lot of minds. Still praying for you and all of Sherry's family.

100% for sure Beth I am in. I have been thinking about her on every single runs I did since I found out she was missing. I wish I was closer to where you are, I would have come and run this one with you.

I am crying reading this. So well spoken and lovely. I'm sitting in the hospital reading this. I won't be able to do much for awhile, as doc put me on complete rest, but my main goal is to do this for Sherry at my upcoming 5k on March 24th, along with many of my friends and family. That race is especially emotional for me, bc the funds go to colon cancer which a very close family member of mine died of, and I never skip it...even PR'd it 2 yrs ago. I will pass the word, and I'm looking forward to not only dedicating it to my Grandma, but someone so amazing as Sherry as well. What happened to her continues to haunt me, yet has taught me ways to be more cautious out there running bc we never know what a day may hold. Thanks Beth<3

I'm definitely in! I will try and coordinate the time i run with your group run..I think it would feel neat to know many of us are on the pavement/trails at the same time, no matter what time zone we are in.RIP Sherry!!!!!

I am humbled to join in alongside your family in this great loss, and proud to run in Sherry's honor here in FL. I'll put the word out on FB. I will be donating a "race fee" on your page, but if anyone who knows about how to do t-shirts puts one together with the profits going to the kids, I'd be glad to buy one of those, too. Blessings on you all.

I have shared this information with my running club here in Tulsa, OK and we are going to Run for Sherry on Feb. 11th. I am so sorry for you loss and hope that thousands of people will be running in Sherry's honor that day. I pray that brings some comfort to her family.

I used to live in Williston but my husband and I have sinced moved to Bismarck. Dale and I, and our friends, will be in Deadwood SD but we will be Running/Walking for Sherry while we are there. What a wonderful tribute you have created for Sherry. GODSPEED!

I'm new to your blog but not new to running. I heard about Sherry through a FB post and have followed her story every since. I, too, belong to that group who was aware that bad things could happen to good people, but not to me. Sherry's story makes me anxious about my runs and has given me a lot to think about how I would react. I love to run, it keeps me sane in and in shape. I love the running community. I love being outdoors. Sherry's memory will live on. I would be honored to participate in the Virtual Run for Sherry.

It seems like every run I do since hearing that she was missing has been "for Sherry." In all my years of running I have never been so profoundly effected by a runner's disappearance. And sadly over the years there have been far too many. This weekend I forced myself outside even though I was in less familar surroundings, armed with a need to not allow fear to keep me from living and a heightened awareness I ran and though of Sherry, her family and you and yours. It's sad to feel that I may owe my own safety to someone I can never thank. In light of that, Beth I thank you. Thanks for sharing this challenging and personal thing with me with us all. I will run for Sherry on the 11th and finish the run that Sherry can not.

I've been following you for awhile now.... sorry about the lack of commenting. I am IN for this run. I would also love to post about this virtual run on my website. My site is about swimming...but running is a great dry-land workout :) Is there any specific way you would want it posted? May I place the bib picture or do you want me to just refer back to your site? (which I will do anyway)

My heart grieves for you and your family. I will share the support/info with as many people as I can.-Meg

You have been such a great inspiration for me as a new runner and now Sherry's story has touched me so. Just shared it with my 500+ running group here in Ohio. We will be doing our long run on Saturday and thinking of her.

I am running a half marathon that day and will pin this bib on my back.

It is sadly ironic that the "Finish Chelsea's Run" in San Diego is coming up as well. Chelsea King went out for a run in early 2010 after school and met a terrible end. I hate these reminders of how careful we need to be.

Were in ... also posted to our Governor's cup page .. going to run the 5K route with anyone that wants to join in Helena. One of my Running Freak Friends great ideas! We will be there ... we will be there.

We live on the truck route where Sherry was last seen. We will definitely be walking in her honor. Such a tragic tragedy in our small knit community. May Sherry RIP. May justice be served. May we make the earth pound with each and every step we take! ~~ The Loup and Huse families.

We live on the truck route where Sherry was last known to be. This is such a tragedy for all who knew her a.d didn't know her. We will definitely be put there walking in Sherry's honor. May she rest in peace and justice be found! May we all feel the tremors of the Earth as we walk/run in Sherry's honor!

I shared the link with our local Park and Rec. District and it just so happens that they are having their Annual Sweetheart Race that day and have printed out a ton of the bibs and even included Running for Sherry on the sleeve of the shirts!!! I will try to get some pictures of the participants of our race. You all are in our thoughts and prayers in Colstrip MT!

I will run holding Sherry and her family in my heart and pledge to spread the news of the Feb. 11th Virtual Run in her memory. I write Go Running Mom, a blog dedicated to inspiring healthy living for moms and I live in Parker, CO - so will rally the South Denver Suburbs in support!

Hi,We are in aurora but we are from wolf point mt. We are down because our son is getting chemo and radiation. If he is feeling up to it we would like to meet up with you guys to run for sherry. If not i work out at 24 hr fitness and i will run for her. If maybe you can send the info to meet up to me at babybutterflies1976@hotmail.comOur thoughts and prayers to you, family, friends, and studentsReanna Lambert

Sherry's got 8 miles from me on the 11th! And I'd be lying if I said that was all she got from me. I've been thinking about her every single time I've been out for a run since this happened. Much love to you and the rest of the Arnold family. I hope they find her soon.

And I've spread the word. There will be at least a few of us Billings, Montana folk out pounding the pavement in her honour on the 11th.

Gonna be Running For Sherry in Lewistown, Montana! Shared this on FB and via emails to Friends and Family out of town and out of state! Sherry was a good friend, sister, daughter, wife, mom, teacher, mentor..... She will live on with Montana Folks & others from other States/Countries for years to come! Always in our thoughts and prayers... RIP Sherry You Are MISSED Whole heartedly!!!

We will be running in Chinook, Montana for Sherry! We want her family to know how much we want to celebrate her life and "run" for her. I hope they can find some peace from folks running all over the world for Sherry.